The Chevalier de Grammont took notice of this conduct, without being able to comprehend it; but, as he was attentive to the inclinations of the king, he began to make his court to him, by enhancing the merit of this new mistress.  Her figure was more showy than engaging:  it was hardly possible for a woman to have less wit, or more beauty:  all her features were fine and regular; but her shape was not good:  yet she was slender, straight enough, and taller than the generality of women:  she was very graceful, danced well, and spoke French better than her mother tongue:  she was well bred, and possessed, in perfection, that air of dress which is so much admired, and which cannot be attained, unless it be taken when young, in France.  While her charms were gaining ground in the king’s heart, the Countess of Castlemaine amused herself in the gratification of all her caprices.

Mrs. Hyde was one of the first of the beauties who were prejudiced with a blind prepossession in favour of Jermyn she had just married a man whom she loved:  by this marriage she became sister-in-law to the duchess, brilliant by her own native lustre, and full of pleasantry and wit.  However, she was of opinion, that so long as she was not talked of on account of Jermyn, all her other advantages would avail nothing for her glory:  it was, therefore, to receive this finishing stroke, that she resolved to throw herself into his arms.

She was of a middle size, had a skin of a dazzling whiteness, fine hands, and a foot surprisingly beautiful, even in England:  long custom had given such a languishing tenderness to her looks, that she never opened her eyes but like a Chinese; and, when she ogled, one would have thought she was doing something else.

Jermyn accepted of her at first; but, being soon puzzled what to do with her, he thought it best to sacrifice her to Lady Castlemaine.  The sacrifice was far from being displeasing to her; it was much to her glory to have carried off Jermyn from so many competitors; but this was of no consequence in the end.

Jacob Hall (the famous rope-dancer) was at that time in vogue in London; his strength and agility charmed in public, even to a wish to know what he was in private; for he appeared, in his tumbling dress, to be quite of a different make, and to have limbs very different from the fortunate Jermyn.

["There was a symmetry and elegance, as well as strength and agility, in the person of Jacob Hall, which was much admired by the ladies, who regarded him as a due composition of Hercules and Adonis.  The open-hearted Duchess of Cleveland was said to have been in love with this rope-dancer and Goodman the player at the same time.  The former received a salary from her grace.”—­Granger, vol. ii., part 2, p. 461.  In reference to the connection between the duchess and the ropedancer, Mr. Pope introduced the following lines into his “Sober Advice from Horace:” 

        “What